Let us know via Twitter or Facebook. We humans are naturally sensitive to the baby cry, so we respond also to the cry within the purr. There are lots of things like that we know so little about. One hypothesis is that the purr is a powerful healing action. The frequency of those vibrations — which range from 20Hz up to Hz — is thought to promote bone growth , as bones harden in response to the pressure.
Other frequencies may do something similar to tissue. Cats often purr when they're grooming each other Credit: Marjan Debevere. This is why we see cats purring in apparent contentment while dozing. In reality, it's a form of self-repair. Cats may have adapted their normal behaviour — which now involves spending a lot of the day resting — as a way of avoiding injury through over-exertion.
The purr has developed as a low-energy way to keep bones and tissues in good condition while they rest. And the purr may not just be of benefit to the cats themselves. Petting a cat has long been seen as a form of stress relief — cat ownership could cut the risk of stroke or heart disease by as much one-third. Those same frequencies cats purr at might also be doing good to us as well.
It calms us and pleases us, like watching waves against a beach. Haddon agrees. The purr from a happy cat may also be of benefit to human health Credit: Alamy.
Most of us feed the cat before ourselves, which shows how effective their communication is. With this deeper knowledge, the bond between cat and owner can only grow.
If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc. Ask a Stupid Question Animal. Interestingly, a cat could lose its voice , but it could still purr. The internal laryngeal muscles contribute much more to creating the purring sounds. The main cause that could make a cat lose its purr is laryngeal muscle paralysis. Related: why did my cat lose its voice? In fact, big cats do that as well, but in a different way. Another big cat, which is the tiger, hides a low-frequency purr inside its mighty roar.
This purr is inaudible to humans, but it literally paralyzes its prey. Contrary to the scary effect of big cat roars, domestic cat roars are believed to have a healing effect on humans. Especially, when a familiar sound suddenly becomes different.
We should always stop and listen. Here are some of the more common reasons: Laryngeal Infections and Disorders The larynx is the anatomical part that helps a cat purr. And the clarity of that sound depends on the wellness of the laryngeal muscles as well as the integrity of the airways. The larynx could be affected by a slight cold, a heavy respiratory infection, air pollution, or a more complicated disorder.
In all these cases, only a professional could assess the root cause of the congested sound. Upper Respiratory Infection This is a common occurrence among pets, especially in the cold season. The vast majority of these infections are caused by viruses.
Some are transient and clear up after a week, while others only go into remission and could be reactivated at any future time.
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